FIRST llEPOllT OF COMMISSIONERS.

xxi

The Staff organized under tlieir control for carrying on the actual business of theCommission is shown in Appendix V., which gives the number, names, and employ-ment, of all persons engaged in the various departments during the preparatoryarrangements, and also during the continuance of the Exhibition itself.

In many parts of these arrangements, both before and after the opening cl' theExhibition, the Commissioners derived the most important benefit from the co-operation and assistance of the Corps of Royal Engineers and Royal Sappers andMiners, avIio had been placed at their disposal. An account of the duties per-formed by these corps will be found in Appendix No. VI.

Local Organization.

It has already been stated that as soon as the Commissioners had decided to takeupon themselves the whole responsibility of the Exhibition, they proceeded to appealto the public for support. In order to give effect to this appeal, it was necessaryto establish from the first a good system of local organization throughout thecountry, not only lor the purpose of collecting subscriptions, but with the ultimateview of collecting and diffusing information respecting the Exhibition, ascertain-ing the amount of articles of all sorts likely to be exhibited, and the peculiararrangements necessary in the case of any of them, and generally of conductingthe undertaking as far as possible in accordance with the wishes of the public.Ecfore the issue of the Royal Commission, the Society of Arts had alreadysent deputations to visit a great number of the principal towns of the kingdom, andby the exertions of these deputations no less than G5 Local Committees had actuallybeen formed, and others were in course of formation when the Royal Commis-sioners commenced their sittings. In order to complete the organization thusjudiciously commenced, the Royal Commissioners at their first meeting adopted theibllowing resolutions:—

“ That tho Executive Committeo be directed forthwith to issue a circular to the mayors ofall towns within the United Kingdom having a municipal constitution, announcing to themthe issue of tho lioyal Commission, and inquiring whether a Local Committeo has beenappointed within the town ; and requesting that if no Local Committee has been formed, thomayor will communicate with tho principal inhabitants for the purpose of ascertainingwhether, in their opinion, the circumstances of the town render it advisable to appoint a LocalCommittee.

“ In tho cases wherein such Local Committees do exist, or in which they may hereafter boappointed, tho mayor to bo requested to placo himself in communication with tho Local Com-mittee, and to report whether it is wished that Local Commissioners should be appointed forthe town, on what grounds their appointment is desired, what number of Commissioners isproposed, and what persons are recommended.

“ In the case of municipal towns having Chambers of Commerce , a similar circular to beaddressed also to tho President of the Chamber, and a request made that lie will communicatoWith the mayor upon the subject.

“ In towns or districts not having municipal constitutions, but in which Local Committeeshave been or may bo formod, tho circular to bo sent to such Local Committees.

“ As there may bo districts not included within tho above designations, for which it may bedesirable that Local Committees should bo appointed, and in respect of which further informa-